๐ Topic 01 of 6 ยท Chapter 04 ยท Soils of India
Alluvial Soil of India
Types (Khadar, Bangar), distribution, crops grown โ complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
๐ฑ Alluvial Soil โ Overview
Alluvial soil is the most widespread and agriculturally important soil in India. It covers about 43% of India’s total land area and is found mainly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and river deltas.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Formation | Deposited by rivers (Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra and their tributaries) |
| Area covered | ~43% of India’s land area โ largest soil group |
| Distribution | Indo-Gangetic Plain (UP, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, WB), river deltas (Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery), coastal plains |
| Texture | Sandy loam to clay; varies with distance from river |
| Colour | Light grey to ash grey |
| Fertility | Very fertile โ rich in potash, phosphoric acid, lime; deficient in nitrogen and humus |
| pH | Slightly alkaline to neutral |
๐ฑ Types of Alluvial Soil
| Type | Location | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Khadar (New Alluvium) | Flood plains โ near rivers; low-lying areas | Newer deposits; finer texture; more fertile; renewed annually by floods; lighter in colour |
| Bangar (Old Alluvium) | Upland areas โ away from rivers; terraces | Older deposits; coarser texture; less fertile; contains kankar (calcium carbonate nodules); darker |
๐พ Crops Grown in Alluvial Soil
- Kharif crops: Rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, jute
- Rabi crops: Wheat, barley, mustard, peas, gram
- Alluvial soil supports the highest agricultural productivity in India
- The Indo-Gangetic Plain is called the “Granary of India” โ wheat and rice bowl
โญ Key Facts โ Alluvial Soil:
โข Most widespread soil in India = 43% of land area
โข Most fertile soil โ supports dense population
โข Khadar = new alluvium = near rivers = more fertile
โข Bangar = old alluvium = upland = has kankar nodules
โข Deficient in: Nitrogen, humus, phosphorus
โข Rich in: Potash, lime, phosphoric acid
โข Most widespread soil in India = 43% of land area
โข Most fertile soil โ supports dense population
โข Khadar = new alluvium = near rivers = more fertile
โข Bangar = old alluvium = upland = has kankar nodules
โข Deficient in: Nitrogen, humus, phosphorus
โข Rich in: Potash, lime, phosphoric acid